Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, marks a pivotal moment in American history—the end of slavery. But how did the term Juneteenth come about? TIME explains that it was a Houston newspaper that first abbreviated June 19th to Juneteenth. "I imagine saying the full date was a bit cumbersome, and it seems the shorter version caught on,"Tommie Boudreaux, Galveston Historical Foundation's Chair of African American Heritage told TIME.
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History and origins of the day
According to The National Archives, this day commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. This announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, due to the lack of Union presence in Texas to enforce the executive order. Juneteenth symbolizes the delayed liberation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy.
Smithsonian Magazine reports that the initial celebrations of Juneteenth in 1866 were predominantly prayer meetings and gatherings within African American communities in Texas. These gatherings gradually grew to include parades, music, barbecues, and other festivities that celebrated African American culture and heritage. Over time, as African Americans migrated across the United States, they carried the tradition of Juneteenth with them, expanding its reach and significance.
Despite its historical importance, Juneteenth was largely a regional celebration in Texas and a few other states for many years. The push for national recognition gained momentum during the Civil Rights Movement, and the holiday began to be more widely celebrated in the latter half of the 20th century. Texas was the first state to officially declare Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980.
Becoming a Federal Holiday
The movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday saw significant advancements in the 21st century. This movement was bolstered by the nationwide protests against racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Activists like Opal Lee, known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," played a crucial role in advocating for this recognition. Lee's efforts, combined with the heightened awareness of systemic racism, led to legislative action.
On June 15, 2021, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. The House of Representatives followed suit on June 16, 2021, with a vote of 415-14. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on June 17, 2021, officially making Juneteenth the eleventh federal holiday in the United States and the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.
“It’s particularly important for African Americans because they are still struggling for freedom and equality. But June 19 was a momentous day to mark that next chapter that we embarked on. We can’t make progress unless we have knowledge [of] where we are and where we have been,” john a. powell (who does not capitalize his name), the director of the Othering and Belonging Institute at the University of California at Berkeley, told The Washington Post.
The designation of Juneteenth as a federal holiday has profound cultural and historical significance. It acknowledges the painful legacy of slavery and celebrates African American freedom and achievements. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles for racial equality and justice in America. Juneteenth not only commemorates a critical event in American history but also serves as a catalyst for reflection on the nation's progress toward equality and the work that remains to be done.
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